A new graphic charts the increasing output, from 1998 to present, of the top three diesel truck makers. The team at Throttle Down Kustoms researched the progression of diesel engine power and estimated where both horsepower and torque gains will be 10 years from now.
“With the advancement of turbo diesel technologies and electronic fuel management, I think we’ve only begun to see what these hardworking trucks will do,” says Jeremy Pulse, owner of Throttle Down Kustoms. “These truck makers keep improving their stock parts to produce more torque and horsepower. The growing output for these diesels is really impressive.”
While increased horsepower is great when you need to get around the slow car on a two-lane highway, the increased torque is what impresses most truck drivers. After all, torque is key to getting the most from a truck for towing and hauling. The team at Throttle Down Kustoms took this into consideration and used linear regression analysis on the historical averages to come up with the future forecast for the 2028 engines. Bottom line: They’re expecting torque to grow to more than 1200 lb-ft, while horsepower will hit close to 600.
“Diesel engines are known for their longevity,” says Pulse. “The trucks of today will still be powerful and ready-for-work in 10 years. Even if the engines aren’t as powerful, aftermarket manufacturers will always be there with performance upgrades. And, if you’re planning ahead for a new truck, this chart gives you something to look forward to.”
Because the big three heavy duty truck makers have models with a variety of outputs, the chart uses the one from each brand with the highest output available for each year. The biggest jumps in performance occurred from 1998 to 2008, with average gains of 63 percent more horsepower and 44 percent more torque. The next 10-year span shows only a 19 percent increase in horsepower but torque, once again, rose by 44 percent.
Here are some of the highlights from the trucks featured on the graphic:
- In 1998, the 1999 Ford Super Duty trucks were introduced. They featured an updated diesel engine, the second generation 7.3L Power Stroke. This version delivered 225 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque.
- A new 6.4L Power Stroke diesel arrived in 2008, which was the first Power Stroke to include a diesel particulate filter (DPF). It was quieter than the 6.0L it replaced and pushed the horsepower to 350 and torque to 650.
- 2018’s Power Stroke output was boosted to 440 hp and 990 lb-ft of torque when added to Ford’s aluminum-body Super Duty trucks.
- The 1998 Chevrolet HD trucks had a 6.5L with a 3.8-inch stroke. The turbocharged version delivered 215 horsepower and peak torque of 440 lb-ft.
- From 1998 to 2008, Chevy introduced several Duramax engines. The 2008 HD models had the LMM engine. This Duramax iteration was introduced mid-year in 2007 and delivered 365 hp and 660 lb-ft.
- The 2018 Chevy diesel HD trucks top the list for the greatest output with horsepower at 445 and torque at 910 lb-ft. These are the only trucks on the chart that feature a large hood scoop. This year’s Chevys get even more airflow to the engine and some of them get up to 19 mpg.
- 1998 was the last year for the 12 valve Cummins diesel engine. The graphic represents the 215 hp and 440 lb-ft that Cummins put out when paired with a manual transmission. At the half-year mark, Dodge introduced the 24 valve Cummins.
- In mid-year 2007, the Daimler Chrysler HD trucks were still branded Dodge Ram, and the new Cummins 6.7L replaced the 5.9L. In addition to the 2008 trucks having the new diesel engine, they now had a diesel particulate filter (DPF). Dodge met the emission regulations and still amped up the power. The engine now had 350 hp and 610 lb-ft of torque with a manual transmission. The torque actually shot up to 650 lb-ft when paired with the auto transmission.
- The 2018 RAM heavy duty trucks have the latest Cummins 6.7L turbo diesel. Boasting 930 lb-feet of torque, the RAM 3500 can haul more than 7000 pounds and tow about 30,000 pounds.
See the complete graphic here: https://www.throttledownkustoms.com/n-13563-diesel-pickup-truck-power-projection.html
About Throttle Down Kustoms:
Throttle Down Kustoms officially opened 2004, but owner Jeremy Pulse has been building bumpers since the early 2000s. Pulse earned a degree in Auto Body Technology and Chassis Fabrication from WyoTech’s specialized automotive training program. Committed to offering only the highest quality products, every certified fabricator on TDK’s team graduated from a reputable chassis fabrication program. Located in Montana, TDK continues to design and manufacture custom steel bumpers, skid plates, and frames.